How Not to Build a Reflection Pool With Galium

Hello!

This is an introduction of how not to build a reflection pool with gallium!

The first couple of steps was to demonstrate the beginning steps however in the end I will document the mistakes I have done and what you should not do.

The original idea was to build a similar contraption of a liquid mirror. The liquid would spin and create a parabolic body. This is using a centrifugal force to focus light into one center.

Gallium is easy to obtain from Amazon or Ebay. However, a real liquid mirror uses a large mercury pan. Mercury was not available and also very hazardous so Gallium was the safest material to use.

Melt the gallium out of the tube. How I did this was get hot water and partial melt the gallium so it would slide out. Afterwards use a mini torch to liquefy the rest of stick.

Torch the surface a little bit. The problem with gallium is that slag resides at the top due to oxidation. You can tell the difference between untorched and torched. You can also stir it with a toothpick to make it more visible.

Since the gallium needed to spin at a rate where it was controllable I used a dremel to adjust the rpm.

After having a bit that would fit on the bottom of the glass. Attached via using resin, my next step was to try it out.

This is where the failure began.

The cup detached when approaching to the lowest RPM. The rpm was too high and the cup was flinged outwards. Thus the hole in the picture.

The whole project cost a tad bit of money however lesson learned. When building a pool that needs to be spun the rpm has to be low and adjustable. A dremel is not sufficient and thus another approach is needed.

Any comments and ways to accomplish this is greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading.

Here is a successful attempt in this process.